Ch 12 Social Psychology

A method of persuasion that uses high elaboration—where people pay attention to the arguments and consider all the information in the message. This method usually results in development of stronger attitudes.

central route

An uncomfortable mental state due to a contradiction between two attitudes or between an attitude and a behavior.

cognitive dissonance

When college students were asked which personal characteristics they found to be the most positive and most negative in a friend or romantic partner, the most positive trait was being __________ and the most negative trait was being

sincere; unkind

People's explanations for why events or actions occur that refer to external events, such as the weather, luck, accidents, or other people's actions.

situational attributions

The first time she had bubble tea, Maria thought it was weird and gross, but all of her friends loved the strange tapioca in the bottom of their drinks, so Maria decided to give it another try. What shaped her attitude toward bubble tea?

social exposure

When the mere presence of others enhances performance.

social facilitation

The tendency for people to work less hard in a group than when working alone.

social loafing

Expected standards of conduct, which influence behavior.

social norms

Factors that influence people to follow the orders given by an authority.

obedience

During her first week in college, Francesca wondered which people in her hall she would befriend. Which one of the following is Francesca most likely to befriend?

Carly, who is the same age and race as Francesca

Kaitlyn's friends were planning to go to a movie around 11 that night, which is past Kaitlyn's curfew. To get permission to stay out late, Kaitlyn plans to use the "foot in the door" strategy. What might she do?

First she will ask her mother if she can borrow the car to go out. Then, after her mother agrees, she will request to stay out past curfew.

According to research, which of the following is a behavior demonstrated by happy couples?

Happy couples express concern for each other even when disagreeing.

Which of these scenarios explains how mere exposure has shaped Jess's attitude toward edamame?

Jess didn't initially like the tiny green beans, but they keep showing up at mealtime, and Jess no longer minds eating them.

Which story most accurately demonstrates what social psychologists know about the roles of competition and cooperation in prejudice?

Rupert and Sean had always been rivals in school. It didn't help that they played on different club hockey teams. However, after being paired together for a science project, they realized they had a lot in common and became friends.

The failure to offer help to people in need.

bystander apathy

Which of the following statements about relationships is LEAST accurate?

The most successful romantic couples are couples with opposite traits

According to years of research, people witnessing someone in need are less likely to help when which of these is true?

There are many bystanders

Sylvia is home alone with nothing to do except watch television. She finds herself paying close attention to an infomercial, which outlines five good reasons she should purchase her own food dehydrator. Sylvia is persuaded and decides to place an order. According to the elaboration likelihood model, this infomercial's persuasion took which route?

central

Sharon's daughter just got engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Ted, but Sharon is not happy about this news. Ted does not have a stable job, and he is also a bit overweight, both of which lead Sharon to believe that Ted is lazy. Sharon struggles with her weight too, but she blames this on her thyroid problem. Sharon's assessment of Ted is an example of which of the following biases?

actor/observer bias

When interpreting our own behavior, we tend to focus on situations. When interpreting other people's behavior, we tend to focus on personal attributes.

actor/observer bias

Any behavior that involves the intention to harm someone else.

aggression

The act of providing help when it is needed, with no apparent reward for doing so.

altruism

Ease of retrieving an attitude from memory.

attitude accessibility

People's evaluations of objects, of events, or of ideas.

attitudes

Marcia and Stanley have been married for many years. Each feels that their relationship is based on trust, intimacy, respect, and friendship. They both feel a strong commitment to care for and support each other. Marcia and Stanley are most likely experiencing __________ love.

companionate

A type of romantic relationship that includes strong commitment to supporting and caring for a partner.

companionate love

The tendency to agree to do things requested by others.

compliance

The altering of your own behaviors and opinions to match those of other people or to match other people's expectations.

conformity

When Urie is out with his friends, he smokes cigarettes because they all smoke cigarettes and regularly offer him one. Even though he does not like smoking and would prefer not to smoke, Urie wants to be like the others in his group so he'll be accepted. Urie's behavior is most likely being affected by

conformity.

A state of reduced individuality, reduced self-awareness, and reduced attention to personal standards; this phenomenon may occur when people are part of a group.

deindividuation

Brenda is usually a very reserved young woman. When she goes out with her friends one night, her friends start dancing wildly on the dance floor. Brenda joins the group, begins to lose her self-awareness, and starts dancing wildly even though it would normally embarrass her. In this situation, Brenda's actions are best explained by

deindividuation

Patti is fairly reserved and tends to be a wallflower, but last night, while at a rock concert, she felt her inhibitions disappear, and she danced right along with the rest of the crowd. What process affected Patti?

deindividuation

The inappropriate and unjustified treatment of people as a result of prejudice.

discrimination

An attitude that a person is consciously aware of and can report.

explicit attitude

The more frustrated we feel, the more likely we are to act aggressively.

frustration-aggression hypothesis

In explaining other people's behavior, the tendency to overemphasize personality traits and underestimate situational factors.

fundamental attribution error

The Jingle Belles a cappella group is considering new members cautiously. Each new member has a big effect on the rest of the group, so tryouts are lengthy, and personality plays a role too. When considering whether to admit Destiny to the group, the current members are initially somewhat skeptical. After discussing Destiny's vocal skills and other social factors, the group becomes even more skeptical and decides not to risk adding Destiny to their roster. What is this phenomenon called?

group polarization

An attitude that influences a person's feelings and behavior at an unconscious level.

implicit attitude

Cassie often tells her friends that males and females should equally share parental responsibilities, but she unconsciously feels that women are better parents. Even though she's not aware of it, this causes Cassie to work harder at being a good stay-at-home mother. It seems that Cassie's behavior is being influenced by __________ about the roles that women have in the family

implicit attitudes

Carl's first job was as a camp counselor. The hours were grueling and the pay was practically nothing. Carl spent most of the summer broke, miserable, and wondering why he'd accepted the job. However, 10 years later, his outlook was different. He remembered this job fondly and considered it a worthwhile life experience. Which effect describes his shift in thinking?

justification of effort

The increase in liking due to repeated exposure.

mere exposure effect

Subtle forms of prejudice that coexist with the rejection of racist beliefs.

modern racism

Phillipe and Pima have been in a relationship for 2 months. They both feel an intense sense of longing to be with each other, as well as strong sexual desire that has not begun to diminish. According to Hatfield and Berscheid, they are experiencing __________ love

passionate

A type of romantic relationship that includes intense longing and sexual desire.

passionate love

A method of persuasion that uses low elaboration—where people minimally process the message. This method usually results in development of weaker attitudes.

peripheral route

People's explanations for why events or actions occur that refer to people's internal characteristics, such as abilities, traits, moods, or efforts.

personal attributions

The active and conscious effort to change an attitude through the transmission of a message.

persuasion

Maya and her family moved into a new house over the summer, and she dreaded having to start at a new school, where she would have to interact with girls whom her old friends had despised. However, after a few weeks in the new school, Maya realized that both groups of girls were pretty similar. Maya's experience dispelled her

prejudice

Negative feelings, opinions, and beliefs associated with a stereotype.

prejudice

Acting in ways that tend to benefit others.

prosocial

Yerrendrina has just moved away to go to college, and she feels that her relationship with her boyfriend at home won't last because of the distance. She knows that she isn't going to see him very often and fears that they will drift apart. Yerrendrina is worried that their relationship is going to be affected by a change in

proximity

People's tendency to behave in ways that confirm their own expectations or other people's expectations.

self-fulfilling prophecy

Dominic just saw a red truck rear-end a little white sedan at a stoplight. When a teenage driver stepped out of the truck, Dominic felt sure that the teen either had been careless, had been texting while driving, or both. Dominic's bias can be explained by which of the following?

the fundamental attribution error

While standing in line at the pharmacy, Mitrell notices that a woman walks in, picks up an allergy medication, and cuts in front of everyone who is waiting to pay. She walks up to the register, drops a $10 bill on the counter, and walks out. Mitrell assumes that this woman is very rude, but he does not know that there is a child in her car who is having an allergy attack. Mitrell's judgment in this situation reflects

the fundamental attribution error.

Nnameke met the woman who lives in the apartment next to her once. For some reason, Nnameke's first impression of the woman was negative. However, after months of occasionally bumping into each other and exchanging small talk, Nnameke starts to like her neighbor very much. The change in Nnameke's attitude is most likely due to

the mere exposure effect

When Flint walks into class, he sees two girls laughing in the corner and gesturing at another girl and he perceives that they are making fun of her. He immediately thinks the two girls are mean-spirited people. This brief period of observation that was the basis for Flint's judgment is called

thin slice of behavior